Pro-Choice Caucus Chairs Condemn Republican Efforts to Include Anti-Choice Riders in Appropriations

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-25) and Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-1), co-chairs of the House Pro-Choice Caucus, released this statement in reaction to attempts by Republicanleaders in Congress to attach anti-choice riders on the bill to fund the U.S. government through the rest of Fiscal Year 2017. These riders may echo past legislation restricting a woman's right to choose, including so-called "conscience clauses" affecting the availability of abortion services.

"Once again, we may be faced with a power play in Congress pitting the federal budget against women's control over their own health care decisions. Republican leadership proved capable of recklessly forcing such a showdown in 2013 when they shut down the government over a scheme to defund Planned Parenthood. Now they may risk the same result over other restrictions on women's health. They need to be aware that members of Congress and the American public oppose such extreme efforts. The women of America have had enough."